Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Radio-telegrafist

Unit:

M.V. Apollonia, British Merchant Navy

Awarded on:

April 3rd, 1941

Recommendation:
Hostile surface vessels opened heavy fire; with the first volley the ship’s guns were rendered inoperable; the vessel caught fire and she was holed on the waterline. The starboard lifeboat was lowered and picked up some crewmembers who had jumped overboard. Subsequently the vessel was hit by two torpedoes, causing it to sink. The enemy fired two rounds at the lifeboat before departing. There were 24 survivors and 14 men lost their lives. During the shooting, Mr. Koppler, 3rd Officer went back on board and took a wounded man to the lifeboat, thus saving his life. The First Mechanic, Mr. Jongejan was on deck helping to lower the lifeboats when suddenly the lights went out because the auxiliary engine had been stopped, just like the main engine as the Master had ordered the engines to be stopped. Therefore he left the others, went alone to the engineroom and restarted the generator so there was light once more to work by. The wireless operator had been seriously wounded by shrapnel before leaving the vessel. He did not mention this at all and performed outstanding work in pulling other survivors from the water before his strength left him.


KB no 6

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Radio Officer

Unit:

M.V. Apollonia, British Merchant Navy

Awarded on:

1941

Enemy surface craft openend intense fire, destroying the ships gun at the first salvo, setting the ship ablaze and holding her at the waterline. The starboard boat was lowered, and picked up some of the crew who had jumped overboard. Two torpedoes were then fired into her and she sank. The enemy fired two rounds at the lifeboat before leaving. There were twenty-two survivors and fourteen men lost their lives. During the firing mr Koppier, Third officer, returned from the boat to the ship and carried a wounded man to the boat, thereby saving his life. The chief engineer, Mr. Jongejan, was on deck helping to launch the boats when the lights went out, for the auxiliaries had been stopped as well as the main engine when the master ordered the engines to be stopped. He therefore left the others and went alone into the engine-room and restarted the dynamo, giving light to work by. The wireless officer had been severely wounded by a splinter before leaving the ship. He did not mention this and did excellent work in pulling other survivors out of the water before his strength failed him.